Author: Rhys Gregory

There’s never been a better time to enjoy and support local food and drink. And there’s never been a better time to enjoy the delicious range of produce at Haverfordwest Farmers Market! Held every Friday between 9am and 2pm at Castle Square, the market now hosts more than 20 stallholders selling fresh, local, seasonal produce from Pembrokeshire and its borders. Produce includes seasonal vegetables and fruit, award-winning beef, pork and lamb, with organic choices, farm-fresh fish and poultry, sourdough and other home-made breads, farmhouses cheeses, home-made cakes and conserves and much more – as well as beautiful cut flowers, soft…

Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet has recommended placing a 100 per cent Council Tax premium on second homes, and to retain the current 100 per cent empty homes premium. The county currently has the second highest rate of second or empty homes and long term empty homes in Wales and in 2017 the Council introduced a 50 per cent Council Tax premium on second homes and a premium of up to 100 per cent on long term empty homes. Reducing the number of second homes and long term empty homes is seen as desirable as increasing the supply of affordable housing…

More than 2,800 workers have helped build the Copr Bay phase one development so far since construction began back in 2019. Together, they’ve clocked up over 722,000 hours of work, with figures showing 77% of the workers are from Wales. The £135m Copr Bay phase one district includes the 3,500-capacity Swansea Arena, the 1.1-acre coastal park, the new bridge over Oystermouth Road, new spaces for leisure and hospitality businesses, and new car parking facilities. Swansea Council is developing the district, supported by development manager RivingtonHark. Construction of the district – being led by Buckingham Group Contracting – will be complete later this…

During August the scheme funded by Swansea Council saw bus use soar by more than 50% with more than 220,000 passengers taking advantage. Now it’s back for both weekends of half-term, starting on Saturday, October 23, for three consecutive days and again from Friday, October 29 for three consecutive days. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said feedback on the summer stage of the initiative had been extremely positive and some of the busiest routes operated on Gower saw passenger numbers increase by up to 65%. He said: We launched #FreeRideSwansea to help families and businesses as they emerged from…

A grant fund worth more than £100,000 has been awarded to Neath Port Talbot Council to support community organisations helping to tackle food poverty. Known as the Food Poverty Grant, charities and voluntary organisations can apply for capital and revenue funding to address issues concerning food poverty or help to address the cause of food poverty. Capital funding can be used to support organisations to access, store and distribute food supplies including food surplus and storing fresh food. For example, the purchasing of fridges, freezers, cooking equipment or IT equipment that helps to deal with referrals from customers. Revenue funding…

A range of building projects have been taking place at schools across Bridgend County Borough with additional classrooms and learning spaces being created. Funded by a £500,000 Welsh Government Schools Capital Maintenance Grant, work took place during the school summer holidays with further projects planned in the coming months. At Bryntirion Comprehensive School, adaptations to the library over the summer holidays have helped create smaller spaces for group work to take place. A new foldaway partition wall provides the option of one open space or two smaller rooms with the school using the area as a breakout environment for ten…

A series of front doors installed by Foster Wales highlight those who have opened their homes to foster children in Wales as it aims to significantly increase the number and diversity of Local Authority foster carers. Several life-size front doors have been unveiled outside the Senedd as the new network of 22 Local Authority fostering services across the country, Foster Wales, invites the public to consider opening their homes to help accommodate the numbers of children in Wales who need care and support. Foster Wales is working towards increasing the number of foster carers in Local Authorities in Wales to help keep children in their local area, when that is right for them, which contributes to the national impact on the futures of…

Work is now complete on the first council homes to be built in the Caerphilly county borough in 19 years. The homes were officially ‘handed over’ to Caerphilly County Borough Council recently by developer Llanmoor Homes at Bedwellty Field, Aberbargoed.  There are 6 social rent homes on the 55-property development which will be owned and managed by the council, as well as 2 low cost home ownership properties, which will offer opportunities for first time buyers to purchase their own home. Cllr Philippa Marsden, Leader of Caerphilly Council, said “This is an incredibly significant moment, as we begin to deliver…

Tyler Higgins, 20, has been jailed after admitting two counts of rape committed during the early hours of July 15, 2021. The victim has described experiencing ‘constant visions’ and suffering nightmares as a result of his actions. Higgins, from Cathays, Cardiff, came across the woman while she was lost walking from Cathays back to a hotel in the city centre. He offered to show her the way but instead led her into Bute Park where he carried out the violent attack. Higgins was identified as a result of a media appeal for information and arrested within 48 hours of the…

A Welsh landlord refused a Rent Smart Wales licence to carry out letting and management activities has been found guilty of managing his properties illegally. Derrick Morgan, of Crossways, Parc Newydd, Briton Ferry, continued to issue tenancy agreements and collect rent from tenants living in his properties in Neath Port Talbot, despite having been refused a licence by Rent Smart Wales in 2019. All landlords and agents in Wales who undertake letting and management work at rental properties are legally required to have a Rent Smart Wales licence. At Cardiff Magistrates Court, Mr Morgan pleaded guilty to failing to comply…